chesstree

noun

chess·​tree
ˈchesˌtrē
: a piece of wood with a sheave or sheaves formerly bolted in the topsides of a ship and through which a tack or sheet was rove

Word History

Etymology

perhaps by folk etymology from French châssis framework

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near chesstree

Cite this Entry

“Chesstree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chesstree. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!